punctual
Arriving or doing things exactly on time.
punctual in a sentence
- Mr Byrne was so punctual that you could set your watch by the moment he opened the classroom door.
- The island ferry is always punctual, leaving at nine on the dot whatever the weather.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to punctual?
- Alate
- Btardy
- Cprompt
- Dslow
Show the answer
C: prompt. The other three mean the opposite of punctual.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to punctual?
- Atimely
- Bprompt
- Clate
Show the answer
C: late. The other three mean nearly the same as punctual.
Words that mean something similar
prompt, timely
Words that mean the opposite
late, tardy, slow
Careful: punctual is not prompt
Punctual is about keeping to a set time. Prompt is about acting quickly, with no delay. Read why children mix them up.
More words about time & change
- reserve: To keep something back to use later, or to book it for someone.
- restore: To bring something back to how it was before.
- revive: To bring something back to life or strength.
- seldom: Not very often.
- slumber: To sleep deeply and peacefully.
- suspend: To stop something for a while, or to hang something up.
- tardy: Late, or slower than expected.
- tedious: Boring because it goes on too long and never changes.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test